Paradise Wood
Paradise Wood is a new woodland being created on the Northmoor Trust's estate in south Oxfordshire, England. The name for the woodland was adopted from a medieval field 'Paradise', sited at the centre of the new woodland.
The first trees were planted in the winter of 1992 and to date 50,000 trees have been planted across 25 ha, receiving full grant aid under the Woodland Grants Scheme (WGS) and Farm Woodland Premium Scheme (FWPS). Unplanted areas on the site continue under a commercial arable-cropping regime until selected for tree planting. The completed woodland will cover 45 to 50 ha and will be composed of 75% broadleaves, 10% conifers, 5% coppice and 10% open ground.
The main objectives for the woodland are to create a centre for the research into the improvement of hardwood trees, such as oak, ash and walnut, for timber production in the UK. It is also important to demonstrate that planting woodland for timber production need not prevent landowners from promoting wildlife and enhancing the countryside.
- A bird's eye view of Paradise Wood in 2050 A.D.
The woodland is situated at 55 metres above sea level on a virtually flat former floodplain. The land is classed as Grade 2 arable, the deep soils being mostly sandy-clay loam overlying river gravel, with pH ranging from 6.2 to 7.7. Rainfall averages 570mm per annum. The good quality and homogeneous land is ideal for the housing of large forestry experiments with a wide range of different tree species.
Wildlife Conservation & Landscape Design
The woodland has been designed to provide long-term benefits to wildlife, both flora and fauna. Wide rides are being developed through the woodland and areas of coppice will allow wildlife to thrive. A wildflower meadow is being developed on the woodland edge, following the roadside between the Wittenham villages. Standard oak trees have been planted in one area of the meadow to create a woodland pasture for the future, where the trees can grow naturally to old age. Several kilometres of new hedgerows have been planted adjacent to the woodland with native shrub and tree species. Wildlife monitoring and research is carried out on the farm; including a winter bird survey, the national common bird census, a moth research programme and routine vegetation monitoring.
A landscape evaluation was completed in 1995, assessing the impact of the woodland development on the local landscape. Views from important locations were considered including the local villages, the nearby roadside and the prominent viewpoint on the Wittenham Clumps. The evaluation was used to design the woodland's structure, shape and area.
Visits
Paradise Wood receives many visits each year including divisional groups of the Royal Forestry Society, local farming and forestry interest groups, students and researchers from the Universities of Oxford, Reading and Buckingham, and executives and researchers from the Forestry Commission and H.R.I. In autumn 2000, the Trust hosted a workshop on the genetic improvement of broadleaves.
The Northmoor Trust hosted the first annual general meeting for BIHIP in September 2001.
From time to time, guided walks for the public are also provided in Paradise Wood. Visit our public events pages for more information.
